Dredge



Jan. 5-, 1932.

G G. POWELL DREDGE 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15,. 1928 Jan. 5, 1932. E G. s. POWELL DREDGE Filed May 15. 1928 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN G. G. PQWELL Jan 5, 1932.

DREDG-E Filed May 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 5, 1932.

PATENT OFFICE GEORGE e. POWELL, or NEW'YOBK,.1\1'. Y.

nnnnen Application file'd May 15,

This invention relates to a dredge. The object of the invention is the production of a dredge which is continuously and and deposited upon one or both banks of the canal without the intervention of any intermediate apparatus or mechanisms as pipe lines, conveyors and the like. The second object of the invention is the produ'ction of a. dredge having cutting, Conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, the elements of the wheels comprising integral. parts thereof, which deliver the out, conveyed material centrifugally to the banks of the trench or canal. The third object of the invention is the provision of means in conjunction with cutting wheels thereof, whereby the material operated upon is brought to within the path of the'more active zone of the said wheels.

The fourth object of the invention is thepro- (action with a dredge of a depth gauge and steadying means therefor, the said means also smoothing and leveling the bottom of the canal. The fifth object 'of the invention comprises the provision of means to feed the wheels of the dredge into the face of a canal to be cut, the said means also displacing the uncut portion of the'face of the canal into the path of said wheels. 2 v

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of an exemplification of. the improved dredge; Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the dredge w th a slight ".5- modification of its housing; Fig. 3 indicates on an enlarged scale a front view of the dredge; Fig; 4 represents atop viewof Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a section of Fig. 4011 the line 5, 5; Fig. 6 indicates an enlargedsectionof Fig. 4 on the line 6, 6; Fig. 7 represents a partial section of Fig. 6 on the line 7, 7'; Fig. 8 indicates a plan View of a detail; Fig. 9 indicates an enlarged side view of some details and section of Fig, 4 on the line 9, 9 Fig.

10 is an end view of a portion of F ig. 9 ;-Fig.

11 represents a section of Fig. 9 on the line 11, 11 and Fig. 127showsan enlarged section of Fig. 5 on the line 12,12. 7

The improved dredge consists of a hull-15 having a housing 16. A pair of cutting, conuninterruptedly fed into the face of a trench or canal to be cut, and the material severed 1928. Serial No. 277,9?

veying-and centrifugal delivery wheels are indicated in their entireties at 17. Each of thewheels is detachably secured to the end of parallel shafts 20, which are rotated independently of each other. The said shafts 20, extend into said hull '15, and are driven by motive power not shown. To the front end of the hull 15 is adjustably secured a feed screw casing 84 for the feed screw 100, which latter is drivenby mechanism in said casing 84'to be described.

Each of the cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels 17 consists of inner walls 25, and outer forward walls 26 having the radial openings 27. Channel irons 28 radially disposed, separate the Walls and 26, and form the compartments 29, open at their outer circumferential. ends. Angle irons 30' (see Fig. 12) are fastened to the outerface of the walls 26 and support the cutters 31. Deflecting plates 32 extend at an angle into the compartments 29, and are sup ported by the angle irons 38. Longitudinal openings 34 extend between the sides of the deflecting plates 32 and the walls 25.

A fiange plate is fastened to the outer side of the wall 25 of each wheel 17. A hub 41 for each wheel 17, hasformed therewith the flange 42 at its outer end and to the latter is detachably secured the displacing boss 43 having the cutting edges 44.

Hubs 45 aresecured to the outerends of the parallel shafts 20, and flanges 46 extend ported. Astationary journal bearing 51 is provided for eachof the shafts 20, and a hinge-number 53 extends from the bearing 51. A hinge number 54 is hinged to the member 53 by the hinge pin 55. Ainovable journal bearing 56 extends from the hinge .number 54. Each shaft 20 comprises a pair of members, one of which has an end journaled 1n the stationary ]ournal bearing 51,

and the other in the movable journal bearing 56. Clutchmembers 57 58 are secured to the i in proved self contained dredge. Every element of thecutting, conveying and the cen trifugal delivery of material from the face of a cut is performed in the substantially constructed wheels 1'7, and without any auxiliary means whatsoever. I p

The bosses l3-projecting from the axial center of each wieel 17, displace the material from their path into the active zones of said wheels. The bosses 43 may have their fiutings or cutting edges l4 formed in a spiral to assist the screw in drawing the hull 15 and the wheels 17 into contact with the face of a cut. The said bosses also act as steadying means to supplement the casing 84 as a steadying means for the dredge, as wherein the face of the excavation is of a height to engage the said bosses. The bosses l3 are made large in diameter as indicated, not merely to displacethe material from the immediate centers of each wheel, but to take full advantage of the fact that the tendency of loose material to be thrown outwardly from a revolving wheel increases as the square of the distance of the material from the center of rotation. V

The feeding device with the feed screw 100 and its appurtenances make the dredge self contained. Other constructions necessitat-e carrying anchors, or attaching to objects for the necessary purchase to feed the machines to their work. \Vith the feeding device of thisinvention, a steady continuous operation of the dredge is assured, uninterrupted by any intermittent, acting auxiliary feedin devices. althou h lines *may be used b h u should it be desired.

In the exemplification of the dredge shown in Fig. 1, cup shaped cutters extend across and close the circumferential endsof each opening 27. These are not'shown'in Figs. 2 and 3.

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the present exemplificati'on is to be taken as illustrative and not limitative thereof.

Having described my invention, wvhat I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is: 7 u

1. A dredge comprising rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels mounted upon parallel shafts operatively supported upon and overhanging the forward end of a supporting hull, and means to force said wheels-steadily and continuously into the material operated upon to cut the same, said means operating in the material in advance of the cutters of said wheels, said wheels discharging said material therefrom during their-rotation by centrifugal force, all the elements of cutting, centrifugal conveying and delivery of material performed within the confines of the rotating entities of the said wheels.

2. A dredge comprising rotary cutting,

'conveying' and centrifugal delivery wheels,

cutters extending from said'wheels and continuous feeding means to force'said cutters into the material operated upon Without the use of intermittent feeding means as anchored lines etc., the said continuous feeding means comprising a controllable speed rotating screw operating in said material in advance of saidcutters.

-l. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, the said several elements thereof comprised within' the confines of the rotativeenentities of the said wheels, cutters extending from each wheel, steady continuous feeding means to force said cutters into the material operated upon and large indiameter cutting,

displacing and stabilizing bosses axially ex-- tending from each of said wheels and concentrio with their shafts, the cutters severing the material operated upon,and said bosses cutting the material adjacent to the axial centers of the wheels and forcing. it in position tobe conveyed anddischarged at'a desirable distance from the centers. of said wheels to take greater advantage of the law of centrifugal force in wheels by said wheels.

5. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, cutters extending from each wheel. and means to feed the cutters continuously into the material operated upon, said feeding means displacing the material in its path to the cutting zone of said wheels.

6. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, 7

cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, cutters extending from each Wheel,

a casing adj ustably supportedin the dredge between the lower portions of'the Wheels and feeding'nieans extending from said casing, said feeding means forcing the cutters into the material operated upon, said feeding means displacing the material in its path to the cutting zone of said wheels, and said casin functionim as a de )th au e and D b D D steadying device for said dredge.

'FJA dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, each wheel comprising a front walland rear wall, compartments extending radially from the hub of each Wheel to its circumferential portion, said front wall having openings radially extending from its hub to its circumferential portion, cutters radially disposed from the front wall of each wheel adjacent to the openings thereof, deflecting plates extending from the front wall of each wheel at the openings thereof, forming with the compartments surge chambers therefor and feeding means to force said cutters into the material operated upon.

8. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, means to feed the wheels into the material operated upon, a rotating shaft supporting each wheel, each shaft comprising a pair of members normally axially in line with each other, a stationary journal bearing for one end of one member of each pair of shafts, a stationary hinge member extending from each stationary journal bearing, a second hinge member adapted to swing pinned to the stationary hinge member, a journal bearing carried by the second hinge member supported by the second member of each pair of shafts, and clutch members interposed between the ends of the members of each pair of shafts.

9. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, each of said wheels having compartments formed therein for the conveying and discharging of the material operated upon, cutters extending from the front wall of each wheel, the front wall of each wheel having openings adjacent to the cutters thereof for the entrance of the material operated upon said wheels open at their circumferential portions for the dischar e of said material, a shaft comprising a pair of members supporting each wheel and means to detachably connect the members of the shaft, to allow said shafts and wheels to be swung to a vertical position.

10. A dredge comprising a pair of rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, a rotating shaft supporting each wheel, each. shaft comprising a pair of mem-- bers normally axially in line with each other, a stationary journal bearing for one end of one of the members of each pair of shafts, a journal bearing adapted to swing in hinged relation to each stationary journal bearing, the other member of each pair of shafts ournaled in the journal bearing adapted to swing, a bearing block supporting the outer end of the latter members of each shaft, a spacing sleeve interposed between and fastened to each swinging journal bearing and its accompanying bearing block, and a saddle to detachably support each. bearing block.

11. A dredge comprising a hollow cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheel, said wheel having an inlet opening in its front wall and open at its circumferential portion, means to rotate the wheel, a feed screw located forwardly of said wheel, means to rotate the feed screw and thereby locate the wheel in contact with the material operated upon,

the said material entering the inlet opening of said wheel and discharged therefrom during its rotation.

12. A dredge comprising rotating hollow cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, said wheels having inlet openings in their front walls and nonperforated similar circular rear walls, and open at their circumferential portions, cutters extending from the front walls of the wheels and positive continuous means to contact said cutters by screw feed steadily and continuously with the material operated upon, said means comprising a controlled speed screw operating in the material below and between the said wheels, and operatively ext-ending into and beyond the said cutters, displacing the material of its bulk into the path of said wheels.

13. A dredge comprising a rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheel with radially perforated front wall or plate, and a nonperforated similar circular rear wall with divisional spacing elements between, also radially disposed, forming compartments, said compartments extending from its hub to their open outer circumferential portion, said wheel having openings in its front wall extending into said compartments, said compartments at their outer ends forming discharge openings for the wheel at its circumferential portion free from any restrictive, directive or guiding element or elements as hoods, piping etc., cutters extending forwardly from the front wall of the wheel and means to contact said cutters steadily and continuously against the material operated upon, said divisional spacing elements joining the front and rear walls of the wheel forming the sole means for the centrifugal conveying and delivery of material from the said wheel.

14. A dredge comprising rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, compartments in said wheels, cutters extending forwardly from said wheels, means to contact said cutters steadily and continuously against the material operated upon, said compartments and said cutters with the rotation of the wheel discharging the material operated upon, direct to the bank or banks without any restrictive, directive or guiding element other than those confined within the rotating entities of said wheels.

15. A dredge comprising rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, cutters extending forwardly from. said wheels, a casing positioned at the forward end of the dredge, a motor mounted within said casing, a feed screw and its shaft extending forwardly from said casing, and transmission means interposed between said motor and said shaft.

16. A dredge comprising rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, cutters extending forwardly from said wheels, a casing adjustably secured to the forward end of the dredge, means to adjust the said casing vertically, and a feed screw extending forwardly from said casing, means to rotate said screw, and means to tilt the said casing and said screw to varying degrees of horizontal relationship with said wheels.

17. A dredge comprising rotating, cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels, a casing adjustably positioned at the forward end of the dredge, a motor mounted within said casing, bearings formed with the casing, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a feed screw fastened'to said shaft outside of said casing and gearing interposed between said shaft and motor.

18. A dredge comprising a hull, rotating,

cutting, conveying and centrifugal delivery wheels journaled to the hull and extending forwardly from said hull, a slide plate guided at the forward end of the hull between the longitudinal axes of the wheels, means to vertically move said plate, means to lock the slide plate in operative position, a casing hinged to the slide plate, means to tilt said casing on said hinge relatively to said plate and hull, a feed screw extending forwardly fromsaid casing, and means within the casing to variably rotate said screw.

19. A dredge comprising a supporting hull capable of controlled continuous forward movement, hinged operating shafts rotatively mounted thereon for a pair of opposed, oppositely rotating cutting, centrifugally conveying and direct delivery wheels operatively secured thereon, said wheels being self contained and comprising within their rotating entities, all the said elements of cutting, centrifugal conveying and direct delivery of material operated upon, said wheels cutting a path wider and deeper than said supporting hull.

20. A dredge comprising a supporting hull with positive controllable means to advance said dredge and hull to its work steadily and continuously, a pair of hinged horizontal parallel shafts capable of being swung, operatively supported on said hull, and overhanging its forward end on the outer end of which are operatively secured a pair of opposed, oppositely rotating cutting, centrifugally conveying and direct delivery wheels, the said wheels being entirely self- A contained and comprising within their rotative entities all the said elements as cutting, conveying and delivery by centrifugal force of the wheels rotation, said wheels cutting a wider and deeper path than the width and depth of said supporting hull, and depositing the material cut directs to the banks 7 formed as the dredge progresses.

21. A dredge comprising a supporting hull, a pair of parallelhinged shafts operatively supported on said hull and overhang-- ing its forward end, a pair of opposed oppositely rotating cutting, centrifugal conveying and direct delivery wheels operatively, secured to the outer end of each said shafts, a radially slotted circular front plate for each of the wheels and a nonperforated rear circular plate therefor with radially and uniforinly disposed spacing elements secured between, forming compartments open at their peripheral ends, a cutter with its deflecting plate for each of said compartments through each radially disposed slot leading into the upper portion of each compartment of each said wheels said deflecting plates reaching to within a short distance of the rear plate in each compartment, through which opening the cut material is forced into the lower portionofeach compartment under said deflecting plates, said'spacing elements forming the sole means for the centrifugal conveying and delivery of material from said wheels, all the elements of cutting, conveying and delivery comprised within the rotating entities of each said wheels, and means to contact the cutters of the dredge with the material operated upon steadily and continuously.

- Signed at New York City, in the county of New York and State of New York this fourth day of Ma A. D. 1928.

G O-RGE G. POWVELL. 

